Bescom withdraws load-shedding

 In a surprise Gowri-Ganesha gift, the State government on Tuesday evening completely withdrew load-shedding in Bengaluru city, and towns/cities and villages under the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom).

For Bengalureans reeling under four-hour load-shedding for weeks, the announcement has come as a big relief. On Monday, Bescom had reduced the load-shedding time to three hours, indicating a further reduction in due course. However, the total withdrawal came as a surprise to many.

Bescom said in a release the State’s power situation had improved. Bescom covers the districts of Bengaluru urban and rural, Kolar, Tumakuru, Ramanagara, Chikkaballapura, Chitradurga and Davangere.

On Wednesday, Energy Minister D K Shivakumar had warned that the power shortage could extend till December-end. But a day later, he was more optimistic, saying a cut in load-shedding across the State was likely by September 20. 

What eventually turned the tide was the normalcy that returned to the Udupi Power Corporation Limited (UPCL). Its technical problems sorted out, UPCL’s two units were back to full capacity, generating a total of over 1,000MW.

The recent rain has mitigated the drought situation. Nevertheless, only 12 per cent of Bescom’s power came from hydel stations, with thermal projects contributing about 70 per cent to the grid.